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    Home > Vegan Entrees

    Tofu Meatballs

    By Nandor Barta on 02/17/2023 - May contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe Print Pin

    Tossed in an Italian-style seasoning and cooked to golden-brown perfection, these tender, juicy, and delicious vegan tofu meatballs will have you believing you are dining at an authentic Italian restaurant! The key is minced frozen tofu. They are easy to make, incredibly versatile, and ready to serve in just 40 minutes.

    Black cast iron skillet with red marinara sauce and crispy brown tofu meatballs. It is sprinkled with chopped fresh green herbs. Vegan Parmesan cheese is next to it on top of a cheese grater.

    Vegan meatballs are an excellent addition to any dinner table. Not only are they finger-licking good, but they are incredibly versatile. Be sure to try our other vegan meatball recipes, such as our TVP meatballs, vegan eggplant meatballs, vegan mushroom meatballs, and vegan chickpea meatballs.

    Jump to:
    • What to expect from this recipe?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Cooking tips
    • Variations
    • Serving ideas
    • Equipment
    • Storing tips
    • FAQs
    • More vegan meatball recipes
    • Tofu Meatballs

    What to expect from this recipe?

    These tofu meatballs are packed with a combination of aromatic herbs and spices that will mimic the savory flavor of Italian meatballs but without the meat! Once seasoned, they are then pan-fried or baked to form a crispy crust with a tender and juicy interior.

    While we love TVP to mimic vegan ground beef, we used minced frozen tofu to mimic ground chicken. We were pleasantly surprised when we first started using this ingredient. It is absolutely fantastic. Since then, we make vegan sausage, vegan breakfast patties, and vegan tofu burger with this. It is a godsend, I tell you. So keep one tofu in your freezer all the time. You know, just in case.

    Here’s why this is the best tofu meatball recipe:

    • It is easy to make, using simple ingredients and equipment you likely already have at home.
    • The meatballs are mouthwateringly aromatic and flavorful, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.
    • It is incredibly versatile and customizable. We share several creative ways to prepare and serve your tofu meatballs in this recipe.
    • Unlike some meatballs, these vegan tofu meatballs won’t fall apart when you add them to the sauce.
    • The meatballs are easy to store and freezer friendly, so you can make them ahead of time or save them to eat later.
    Black plate with spaghetti, marinara sauce and crispy brown tofu meatballs sprinkled with chopped green herbs. One meatballs is cut in half so you can see the inside. A fork is placed next to it and vegan parmesan cheese on top of a cheese grater.

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    Ingredients

    You will see why it is so easy to make. I bet you have all ingredients already in your pantry to make meaty tofu meatballs.

    Ingredients of tofu meatballs are placed in small glass bowls like breadcrumbs, tofu mince, milk, garlic, red onion, cornstarch and different spices.
    • Firm tofu – Frozen for at least 24 hours.
    • Breadcrumbs – Use gluten-free ones if you need to.
    • Cornstarch – You can also use tapioca starch.
    • Dairy-free milk – We recommend oat, almond, or cashew milk.
    • Onion (Finely chopped)
    • Garlic (Finely chopped)
    • Olive oil – To make it juicy.
    • Worcestershire sauce – There is a vegan and gluten-free brand we also use. Alternatively, opt for soy sauce or tamari.
    • Oregano (dried)
    • Basil (dried)
    • Nutritional yeast
    • Salt and black Pepper

    🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Instructions

    Preparing tofu

    1. Use frozen tofu that has been in your fridge for at least 24 hours. Thaw overnight.
    2. Squeeze the thawed tofu hard using your hand. You should have a sponge-like texture at the end.
    3. Using a food processor, chop the tofu into small crumble-like pieces. They will have a chewy, bouncy texture, just like minced chicken.
    A food processor with tofu mince.

    Making onion-garlic puree

    Why should you not skip this step? We use acclaimed chef, Joe Sasto’s method to make onion less aromatic, but sweeter. This puree also adds the necessary juiciness compared to other tofu meatballs recipes. I guarantee you that the texture will be the best you ever tasted.

    1. Preheat a frying pan or skillet over medium heat.
    2. Add one tablespoon of olive oil and the finely chopped onion and garlic.
    3. Cook the onion and garlic over medium-low heat until they become tender but not caramelized. They should have an opaque, yellow color.
    White frying pan with finely chopped onion.
    1. Move the onion and garlic with the remaining oil to a bowl and blend it using a hand blender.
    Glass bowl with a light yellow onion puree.

    Making tofu meatballs

    1. In a large mixing bowl, add the tofu crumbles, breadcrumbs, dairy-free milk, cornstarch, onion and garlic, one tablespoon of olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper, and nutritional yeast.
    A large glass bowl with different spices and ingredients to make the tofu meatballs.
    1. Mix well using a spatula or with your hands.
    A sticky light yellow dough in a glass bowl.
    1. Use your hands to roll the meatball into small balls (approximately 1 Tbsp size).
    Black plate with several uncooked tofu balls.
    1. Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add a bit of coconut or olive oil and fry them on each side for a couple of minutes until they reach a nice brown color. You will not need to add oil if it is a non-stick frying pan.
    White frying pan with several tofu meatballs getting brownish on one side.

    If baking the tofu balls in the oven, preheat the oven to 390 degrees Fahrenheit (ca. 199 °C). Then take a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake them for approximately 15-20 minutes.

    Cooking tips

    • Use frozen, thawed tofu – For the best results, use frozen tofu. Raw tofu will be too moist and spongy, even after pressing.
    • Completely dry the tofu – The tofu must be completely dry to the touch before mincing it with the food processor. Otherwise, the recipe will fail. That is why we recommend squeezing the tofu with your hands or with the help of a milk bag to really get it dry.
    • Bake (or fry) before simmering in sauce – To prevent the meatballs from falling apart after adding sauce, we recommend baking or frying first to form a crispy outer crust.
    Black cast iron skillet with red marinara sauce and crispy brown tofu meatballs. A large spoon is in the middle.

    Variations

    You can customize these tofu meatballs to fit your unique taste and preferences in several ways. Here are a few of them:

    • Fresh herbs: Use fresh basil and oregano instead of their dried counterpart. You can also add fresh parsley, but you will need to adjust the other green herbs to keep the same total quantity per the recipe card.
    • Different herbs: Instead of basil and oregano, try combining rosemary, thyme, and sage for a different flavor profile.
    • Extra spices: Kick up the flavor and heat level by adding chili powder, ground peppers, or crushed red pepper flakes into the meatball mix.
    • Different sauces: Mix things up using our homemade marinara sauce, caramelized carrot pasta sauce, vegan cashew alfredo sauce, or vegan mac and cheese sauce as a meatball sauce or glaze.

    Serving ideas

    When it comes to serving tofu meatballs, the possibilities are almost endless! Here are many vegan-friendly ways you can serve up these delicious crowd-pleasers:

    • Spaghetti and meatballs – Use our vegan marinara sauce (pictured below) to make a vegan version of spaghetti and meatballs. Check out our roundup of vegan pasta recipes for even more pasta ideas.
    Black plate with spaghetti, marinara sauce and crispy brown tofu meatballs sprinkled with chopped green herbs.
    • Sandwich: Make a saucy vegan meatball sub with our hearty vegan marinara sauce.
    • Sliders: Make meatball sliders using biscuits.
    • Pita: Stuff pita bread with veggies, add your meatballs, and top them with your favorite vegan yogurt dip or vegan tzatziki.
    • Skewers: Add the meatballs to a skewer stick alongside some vegan BBQ sauce or vegan nacho cheese sauce for an easy appetizer. 
    • Shakshuka – Add the meatballs to your vegan chickpea shakshuka to make it more filling. 
    • Mac and cheese – Take your vegan mac and cheese to the next level and stir in some tofu meatballs for additional flavor
    • Casserole – Throw them in the oven with your favorite pasta, one of our creamy vegan pasta sauces, and top with grated cheese to make a pasta bake or casserole.
    • With veggies: Make a filling, hearty dinner meal and serve your meatballs alongside vegan mashed potatoes or fried rice. Get your veggies in by adding some roasted roasted asparagus and mushroom, or sauteed carrots.
    • Pizza – Make a “meaty” vegan pizza with tender meatballs as a topping.

    Equipment

    • Food processor
    • Tofu press – We recommend the TofuBud press as it is quick, easy, and will do it so without any mess or waste.
    • Cast iron skillet or frying pan – We use the one from UnoCasa.

    Storing tips

    In the fridge: Store the meatballs in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Store the sauces separately to prevent the meatballs from soaking up the sauce and falling apart.

    In the freezer: These tofu meatballs are freezer-friendly after being cooked. We do not recommend freezing as an uncooked mixture, as the meatballs will be too moist when thawed.

    Thawing: To thaw, warm them under the broiler, in the oven, or in a frying pan to make the crust crispy again.

    Black cast iron skillet with red marinara sauce and crispy brown tofu meatballs. It is sprinkled with chopped fresh green herbs.

    FAQs

    How do you keep tofu meatballs from falling apart?

    The breadcrumbs in the recipe help to bind the meatballs and prevent them from falling apart. However, if you do not have breadcrumbs, you can use any other combination of grains as a binding agent. We recommend rice or quinoa with tapioca flour or arrowroot starch. Vegan eggs can also help bind the meatballs.

    Is it better to bake or pan-fry?

    Whether you bake or pan-fry your tofu meatballs is all up to your personal preference. Baking your tofu meatballs omits the oil but results in a dryer texture. On the other hand, pan-frying meatballs will add oil to the recipe but results in juicier meatballs. When added to vegan pasta sauce, the difference is minimal.

    How can I finely chop tofu without a food processor?

    If you don’t have a food processor, we recommend using a large-hole cheese grater. Both methods will give you a fine crumbly texture.

    More vegan meatball recipes

    • Several mushroom meatballs on top of spaghetti with yellow creamy sauce served on a black plate. A fork is taking on meatballs from the middle.
      Vegan Mushroom Meatballs
    • Overlay photo of a frying pan. Lot of small eggplant balls in marinara sauce
      Vegan Eggplant Meatballs
    • A skillet from above with several baked brown meatballs in bright red sauce and chopped green herbs. A spoon is taking one ball from the middle.
      TVP Meatballs
    • White plate with several brownish-redish balls on top of each other sprinkled with sesame seeds. In the background a small glass jar with red sauce.
      BBQ Vegan Chickpea Meatballs
    • Copycat IKEA Veggie Balls

    THANK YOU so much for visiting our website. Please comment below if you have tried this recipe. We LOVE hearing from you! If you loved the recipe, please don’t forget to give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ RATING. We appreciate all of our readers.  

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    Black cast iron skillet with red marinara sauce and crispy brown tofu meatballs. It is sprinkled with chopped fresh green herbs. Vegan Parmesan cheese is next to it on top of a cheese grater.

    Tofu Meatballs

    Nandor Barta
    Tossed in an Italian-style seasoning and cooked to golden-brown perfection, these tender, juicy, and delicious vegan tofu meatballs will have you believing you are dining at an authentic Italian restaurant! The key is minced frozen tofu. They are easy to make, incredibly versatile, and ready to serve in just 40 minutes.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course
    Servings 14 balls
    Calories 60kcal

    Equipment

    • Food processor
    • our Cast-iron Skillet by UnoCasa
    • TofuBud (pressing tofu in 15 minutes)

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 oz Firm tofu measured as drained and squeezed
    • ½ cup Breadcrumbs
    • 2 tbsp Cornstarch
    • ¼ cup Dairy-free milk
    • ½ Onion
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • 3 Tbsp Olive oil
    • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tsp Oregano dried
    • 1 tsp Basil dried
    • 1 tsp Salt
    • 1 Tbsp Nutritional yeast
    • ⅛ tsp Black pepper

    Choose your sauce

    • Healthy Vegan Marinara Sauce pictured
    • Caramelized Carrot Sauce
    • Vegan Mac and Cheese Sauce
    • Vegan Cashew Alfredo Sauce
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    Instructions
     

    Pre-cooking onion and garlic

    • Take a frying pan or skillet and pre-heat to medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp of olive oil and the finely chopped onion and garlic. Cook on medium-low heat the onion and garlic until tender but opaque, yellow, and not caramelized.
    • Add onion and garlic with the remaining oil to a bowl and blend it with a hand blender.

    Preparing tofu

    • For the best result, use frozen tofu. Thaw it overnight, then squeeze it hard. Use your hand or a milk bag. You will have a sponge-like texture at the end.
    • Use a food processor to chop the tofu into smaller crumble-like pieces.

    Mixing and forming meatballs

    • Add tofu crumbles, breadcrumbs, dairy-free milk, cornstarch, onion and garlic paste, 1 Tbsp olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper, and nutritional yeast to a large mixing bowl. Mix everything well with a spatula or with your hands.
    • Form small balls (1 Tbsp size) with your hands.

    Baking or frying

    • Bake the tofu meatballs in a preheated oven of 390 Fahrenheit (ca. 199 °C) for 15-20 minutes.
    • Or take a frying pan and heat it on medium heat. Add a bit of coconut or olive oil if you don't have a non-stick pan. Fry them on each side for a couple of minutes to give them a nice brown color. 
    • Serving suggestions above the recipe card!
    Tried this recipe? Can we see it?Please share a picture with us by uploading an image to Pinterest below ours.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Tofu Meatballs
    Amount Per Serving (1 ball)
    Calories 60 Calories from Fat 36
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 4g6%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 2g
    Sodium 245mg11%
    Potassium 36mg1%
    Carbohydrates 5g2%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 20IU0%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 27mg3%
    Iron 0.5mg3%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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